NEW YORK, March 15, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Checkpoint Therapeutics, Inc. (“Checkpoint”) (NASDAQ: CKPT), a clinical-stage, immuno-oncology biopharmaceutical company focused on the acquisition, development and commercialization of novel treatments for patients with solid tumor cancers, today announced financial results and recent corporate highlights for the full year ended December 31, 2018.

James F. Oliviero, President and Chief Executive Officer of Checkpoint, said, “During 2018, we continued to advance our lead clinical programs, CK-101, a third-generation epithelial growth factor receptor (“EGFR”) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (“TKI”), and CK-301, a fully human anti-PD-L1 antibody, and presented our first interim clinical data for CK-101 in an oral presentation at the World Conference on Lung Cancer. We look forward to presenting our first interim safety and efficacy data from the ongoing CK-301 study in the second quarter as we continue to enroll potential registration-enabling expansion cohorts in endometrial and colorectal cancers, and plan to initiate a registration trial for CK-101 by year-end.”

Financial Results:

Cash Position: As of December 31, 2018, Checkpoint’s cash and cash equivalents totaled $22.0 million, compared to $19.2 million at December 31, 2017, an increase of $2.8 million.

R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2018 were $33.7 million, compared to $19.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, an increase of $14.6 million.

G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2018 were $6.6 million, compared to $5.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, an increase of $1.2 million.

Net Loss: Net loss attributable to common stock holders for the year ended December 31, 2018 was $36.4 million, or $1.27 per share, compared to a net loss of $22.7 million, or $1.00 per share, for the year ended December 31, 2017.

2018 and Recent Corporate Highlights:

In March 2018, Checkpoint completed an underwritten public offering that raised net proceeds of $20.8 million.

Also in March 2018, Checkpoint completed the dose escalation portion of the ongoing Phase 1 trial of CK-301, a fully human anti-PD-L1 antibody, in selected recurrent or metastatic cancers, and initiated the first dose expansion cohort, which is evaluating an 800 mg dose of CK-301 administered every two weeks.

In April 2018, preclinical data were presented on Checkpoint’s BET inhibitor, CK-103, at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting. CK-103 demonstrated combinatorial effects in an in vivo model with anti-PD-1 antibodies, which may support the development of CK-103 as an anti-cancer agent alone and in combination with CK-301.

In September 2018, Checkpoint announced interim safety and efficacy data from its Phase 1/2 clinical trial of CK-101, a third-generation EGFR TKI being evaluated in advanced NSCLC. The data were presented in an oral presentation at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (“IASLC”) 19th World Conference on Lung Cancer in Toronto. CK-101 was well tolerated across multiple dose groups and safe. Durable anti-tumor activity was observed, particularly in treatment-naïve EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC patients.

In October 2018, Checkpoint appointed Christian Béchon to its Board of Directors.

In January 2019, Checkpoint announced that the ongoing multi-center clinical trial of anti-PD-L1 antibody CK-301 was expanded to enroll patients in three endometrial and colorectal cohorts intended to support requests for accelerated approval and BLA submissions to the FDA. The ongoing trial is also enrolling cohorts of patients with NSCLC and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

In March 2019, Checkpoint announced two new patent issuances by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the European Patent Office for CK-101. The patents cover CK-101 in the U.S. and Europe through at least August 2034, not including any potential patent term extensions.

About Checkpoint TherapeuticsCheckpoint Therapeutics, Inc. (“Checkpoint”) is a clinical-stage, immuno-oncology biopharmaceutical company focused on the acquisition, development and commercialization of novel treatments for patients with solid tumor cancers. Checkpoint is evaluating its lead small-molecule, targeted anti-cancer agent, CK-101, a third-generation EGFR inhibitor, in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with EGFR mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In addition, Checkpoint is currently evaluating its lead antibody product candidate, CK-301, an anti-PD-L1 antibody licensed from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, in an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial in checkpoint therapy-naïve patients with selected recurrent or metastatic cancers, including ongoing cohorts intended to support one or more Biologics License Application submissions. Checkpoint is headquartered in New York City. For more information, visit www.checkpointtx.com.

Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended. Such statements include, but are not limited to, any statements relating to our growth strategy and product development programs and any other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition and stock value. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated include: risks relating to our growth strategy; our ability to obtain, perform under and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; risks relating to the results of research and development activities; risks relating to the timing of starting and completing clinical trials; uncertainties relating to preclinical and clinical testing; our dependence on third-party suppliers; our ability to attract, integrate and retain key personnel; the early stage of products under development; our need for substantial additional funds; government regulation; patent and intellectual property matters; competition; as well as other risks described in our SEC filings. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

Company Contacts:Jaclyn Jaffe and William BegienCheckpoint Therapeutics, Inc.(781) 652-4500ir@checkpointtx.com